Mind
Games
(sports psychology)
Maintaining Your
Intensity
Develop your ability to let
go a poor shot and move on to a great one
by Dr. Rick Jensen
What's the most talked about topic in golf? Tiger Woods, of
course. As if his "come from behind" victory in the U.S. Amateur was
not enough; you'd think winning three times in his first nine
tournaments as a professional would be plenty. But no! He had to go
and win The Masters in his first attempt as a professional. Not just
win it - but lap the field, win by the largest margin in Masters
history, and shoot the all-time lowest score ever at The Masters.
Need I say more? The most talked about topic in golf should be Tiger.
Tiger is certainly worthy of the attention, and there is much we can
learn by paying attention to this incredible athlete.
Simply put, Tiger Woods has the entire package. His
ball-striking skills are phenomenal, his short game is true finesse,
and he has the creativity of a Pete Dye. The swing gurus can have a
field day analyzing and commenting on his technical skills. Beyond
swing mechanics, is there any doubt that Tiger is the epitome of
"mental toughness?" If you had the pleasure (and a pleasure it was)
to watch Tiger's performance in this year's Masters, he demonstrated
a range of mental toughness skills under the most difficult of
conditions. Below are two key mental toughness strategies exhibited
by Tiger Woods during his "master"-ful performance.
Maintained intensity
One skill that you will see demonstrated by all great athletes
is "maintained intensity." By "maintained intensity," I am referring
to the ability to keep one's intensity levels consistent throughout
the entire playing period. Keep in mind, I am not suggesting that all
players "Stay intense!" I am recommending that you "maintain your
ideal level of intensity." For instance, Fred Couples is what I call
a low intensity player; Nick Faldo a moderate intensity player; and
Tiger Woods a high intensity player. Regardless of varying levels of
ideal intensity, all three players maintain their intensity level
throughout an entire round.
Tiger demonstrated his ability to maintain his intensity
numerous times over the four days at The Masters. Following a
disappointing 40 on the front-nine on day one, rather than get
depressed, Tiger clearly picked up his intensity and responded with a
6-under performance on the back-nine. How many times did you see
Tiger pump his fist after a great shot, a birdie, or even a
par-saving up and down? These intense behaviors are a clear
indication of Tiger's constant effort to keep his intensity level up
throughout the round.
Letting it go!
I am often asked by players, "Is it okay to get angry during a
round?" My response is, "Of course, if the situation warrants you
being angry, and you can 'let it go' immediately after expressing
your anger."
Tiger is an excellent example of a player who gets angry and
lets it go! Notice the and - anger and letting it go are inseparable
skills. If you do the former, you must do the latter.
During the last round of The Masters, Tiger hit a number of
poor tee shots after which he clearly expressed his disappointment.
However, if you fast-forward your VCR just two minutes ahead, you
will see a charming, smiling, confident player walking by Dr. Rick
Jensendown the fairway, through the rough, and yes, even in the
trees, to accept the challenge of hitting his next shot. Tiger's
ability to let go a poor shot and move on to the "opportunity" of
hitting a great recovery shot is nothing short of amazing.
Take note, imitate, and make this mental toughness skill a
habit - Tiger has!
Dr. Rick Jensen is President of the Performance Enhancement
Center of Boca Raton and the Director of Sport Psychology at the
Academy of Golf, PGA National Resort and Spa. He works extensively
with touring pros on the PGA, LPGA, Nike and Golden Bear Tours, and
is a frequent lecturer at golf clubs nationwide. He can be reached at
561-852-3603.
